Legends Of Tomorrow
Season 1 Episode 11: “The Magnificent Eight”
Directed by Thor Freudenthal
Written by Greg Berlanti & Marc Guggenheim
Starring Arthur Darvill, Victor Garber, Brandon Routh, Caity Lotz, Franz Drameh, Wentworth Miller, Dominic Purcell, Ciara Renee, Casper Crump
Created by Greg Berlanti, Andrew Kreisberg, Marc Guggenheim, Phil Klemmer, Sarah Schechter
The CW
Air Date: Thursday, April 14th, 2016, 8:00pm

This week, Rip Hunter (Arthur Darvill) and the gang are trying to stop Vandal Savage but more importantly are running from the “Hunters”, a group of “boogeymen” sent by the Time Masters. They hide out in 1871 in the wild west town of Salvation, which has Ray (Brandon Routh) super duper excited. I love the Morricone-esque music as they ramble on into town.

Spoilers below.

Their “old timey saloon” time gets broken up because of course Snart (Wentworth Miller) shoots a guy at the poker table. Before that though it was tons of fun, with Sara (Caity Lotz) and Mick (Dominic Purcell) having a shot (alcoholic ones) contest while Dr. Stein (Victor Garber) shows off his gambling skills. Who breaks up the fight, but Jonah Hex!!! Great make up on Jonathan Schaech. Even more shocking than seeing Jonah Hex, is that he is totally unfazed by time travelers, and demands a talk with Rip Hunter (Arthur Darvill).

Kendra (Ciara Renee) had a memory flash moment with a stranger at the bar and goes to find some answers. Dr. Stein meanwhile, totally capturing the Doc Brown from Back to the Future 3 aura, meets a very Mary Steenbergen-like woman. Ray, doing his best Marty McFly, accidentally becomes sheriff under his pseudonym, John Wayne. Together, the gang stops the dreaded Stillwater Gang, but Jonah and Rip are wary of their motives from previous experiences. They can easily defeat 19th century gangs, but what happens when they fly off to a new time period? The leftover town becomes easy pickings.

Turns out the reason Kendra was drawn to the older woman (Anna Deavere Smith), is because she IS the woman in a different time. Her wild west self is not as optimistic about life, hiding out in solitude. “Tragedy or heartbreak, that’s how it always ends,” she warns. In a gunfight with the Stillwater gang, Jax (Franz Drameh) gets lassoed and captured. “Live to fight another day,” Hex tells them as they took the gang’s leader. Why they don’t use their futuristic weapons is beyond me, but Jonah Hex’s solution… a quickdraw where the winner gets their man back. Of course, loser gets dead. Ray volunteers, but Rip takes the responsibility, to make up for past sins.

Victory celebrations are cut short when the Hunters show up right on cue. Suddenly it’s okay to use the future weapons. “Friends, Welcome!” yells Rory, having up til last episode been Kronos the Time Hunter. That fight goes surprisingly quick but with an omen of more monsters to come. Specifically, “The Pilgrim” who will attack each of them… in the past, before they discover their abilities.

So this week was a super fun Back to the Future 3 takeoff, and next week appears to be Terminator as they must go back in time to prevent their younger selves from being wiped out. “Come with me if you want to live!” Legends continues a good streak it’s been on. Of the three DC shows in the CW’s mid-week lineup, I’d put this show firmly between Flash and Arrow for now. While this might not be a compliment, some characters are much more interesting than others. Ray is hilarious, Sara, Snart, and Rory are awesome and I’ve been a Dr. Stein fan since Flash. But it’s hard getting into the Hawkgirl story even though she’s central to the Vandal Savage plot.

Despite any complaints, the one word that has summed up Legends of Tomorrow since it premiered is “fun” and this was a really fun episode.

DC’s Legends of Tomorrow returns next Thursday, April 21st at 8:00pm on the CW.

The CW’s synopsis:

DC’s Legends of Tomorrow
The Magnificent Eight (Ep# 111)
DC COMICS’ JONAH HEX MEETS THE TEAM — When the team needs a place to hide out, Rip (Arthur Darvill) sets a course for the Old West. Upon arrival, they start a fight with a gang of outlaws, putting the small town in jeopardy. Luckily, an old friend of Rip’s, Jonah Hex (guest star Johnathon Schaech), steps in to save them. Thor Freudenthal directed the episode with story by Greg Berlanti & Marc Guggenheim and teleplay by Marc Guggenheim (#111). Original airdate 4/14/2016

Image Gallery

Videos

DC’s Legends of Tomorrow | Inside DC’s Legends: The Magnificent Eight | The CW

DC’s Legends of Tomorrow face Jonah Hex in the Wild West on a new episode, tonight at 8/7c!

DC’s Legends of Tomorrow | The Magnificent Eight Scene | The CW

See Jonah Hex on a new DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, tonight at 8/7c!